Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens hasn't even opened yet, but fans are already looking forward to Episode VIII and Episode IX, and they're doing so with a bit of worry. Even though we don't know if The Force Awakens is any good yet, many fans seem committed to the belief that it will be, and have forever put their trust in director J.J. Abrams. But Abrams isn't directing Episode VIII,Looper director Rian Johnson is. Then Johnson is handing over the reins to Jurassic World helmer Colin Trevorrow for Episode IX. So how are these three very different directors going to come up with a cohesive trilogy?

Through lots of collaboration, according to Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy. While speaking to Slashfilm at the Force Awakens press junket. Kennedy revealed that Johnson had been to the set frequently and that, "J.J. and him had a lot of conversations." She also said that Johnson began working on the script for Episode VIII a year and a half ago and has been preparing to begin production for the past year.

Slashfilm also spoke with Abrams about his collaboration with Johnson, and here's what he said:

"When Rian, who I admire enormously and adore, came on board, we met and talked with him about all the things we were working on and playing with, and he as a spectacular writer and director has taken those things and has written an AMAZING script that I think will be an incredible next chapter, some of which incorporating things we were thinking of and other things are things we could never have dreamed of ... There were a handful of things we talked about that were going to be helpful to him. Some were very easy to do, and some things were things that I didn't want to do for other reasons, but I tried to be as accommodating as I could. And it's so cool to see what happens next in a way that only someone as talented as Rian could do."

As for Trevorrow, Kennedy expects him to do with Johnson what Johnson did with Abrams. "I think Colin will end up doing more of that more-so with Rian as he develops Episode IX," she said. And as for you Abrams fans, he'll still be around in some capacity, though probably not too hands-on by the time Episode IX rolls around. "[J.J.'s] involvement on VIII and IX will really just be an executive producer, and really just to continue the storytelling," Kennedy reveals.